A loud and colorful lion dance, performance by 17-year-old piano prodigy Simon Su and a dinner that started with guests digging chopsticks into a large bowl at the center of their tables and tossing salad ingredients into the air were a few of the elements that went into a fundraiser that attracted more than 500 guests to the Hyatt Regency Tech Center.
The 14th annual gala raised $310,000 to be used in youth education programs in Colorado as well as China and farflung locations around the world. Linda and Jimmy Yip, who lost their son Nathan in an automobile accident in 2001, each year gather to remember him by raising money to support schools and disadvantaged youths. Starting with one project in Mexico, the effort now includes programs in China, Cambodia and several African countries.
The gala combined traditional Chinese New Year elements such as the salad toss “for prosperity,” and red envelopes, typically given as gifts. At the dinner, the envelopes were sold to benefit the foundation’s Colorado projects, and some contained prizes.
Silent and live auctions — the latter conducted by Gary Corbett — brought in additional funds for the organization. Among the hot items were packages of private dinners for eight people, one prepared by chef Chen Zhou, the others hosted at the Yip’s home and prepared by Jimmy’s sister, Ann. The promise of her cooking was so popular it sold three times for $2,000 at pop.
The Yips often take talented musicians under their wings, and that’s the case with Zicong “Simon” Su, who has been living in Denver for the past two years. Su has been studying piano with Larry Graham of the University of Colorado at Boulder, and academics at the Accelerated School in Denver.
Chairing this year’s gala were Jane and Skip Netzorg, and honorary chairs were Linda and Richard Kelley. Among those attending were board member Agatha Kessler and her husband Curt Fentress; and Stephanie and Kevin Tung, Nathan’s godparents, who were visiting from Shanghai and hold a gala there every other year. Anne Trujillo emceed the event, as she has done for 13 years, and her husband Mike Kalush produced the video that was shown. He’s also on the board of the foundation and travels regularly to China to document the foundation’s work.
Suzanne S. Brown: 303-954-1697, sbrown@denverpost.com or @suzannebro
